Sami Trabelsi to be confirmed as Tunisia national team coach

Sami Trabelsi during his time in charge of Qatari club Al Sailiya. Photo Credit: Al Sailiya Sport Club

The recently elected administration of the Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) will confirm Sami Trabelsi as the new coach of the Tunisia national team on Monday according to reports.

According to local media, Trabelsi arrived in Tunisia from Doha, Qatar on Sunday to finalize negotiations with the FTF and his appointment will be complete following a meeting with the federal office on Monday. Trabelsi's technical staff will also be confirmed after Monday's meeting.

The 57-year-old will return to a job he previously held from 2011 to 2013, after which he spent a decade in Qatari football in charge of Al Sailiya. Trabelsi was a highly successful player who captained Tunisia at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and also participated at three editions of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), finishing as runner-up at the 1996 edition hosted by winners South Africa.

Trabelsi coached Tunisia at the 2012 and 2013 editions of the AFCON, resigning after failing to get past the group stage in 2013. He then spent almost ten years at Sailiya where he won back-to-back editions of the Qatar Stars Cup (2020-21, 2021-22) and also the Qatar FA Cup in 2021.

Tunisia will look to confirm their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup under Trabelsi with their next qualification matches taking place in March. The Carthage Eagles travel to face Liberia before hosting Malawi in Group H. Tunisia currently lead the group with ten points from four matches where they have yet to concede a goal.

Namibia are the closest challengers (eight points) in an easy group for the North African nation while Liberia are on seven points with Equatorial Guinea and Sao Tome and Principe the other teams in the group.